Objectivity: Recovering Determinate Reality in Philosophy, Science, and Everyday Life

Objectivity is the belief that human beings can know reality just as it is, without any necessary distortion. However, critics such as Richard Rorty and Jacques Derrida deny this claim, arguing that our cognitive mechanisms, language, culture, personal ambitions, psychological disorders, and class interests can all lead to distortion in our grasp of reality. Professor Machan defends objectivity in philosophy, science, and everyday life from these critics, arguing that it is a difficult ideal to serve in an era of multiculturalism, deconstructionism, feminism, and diversity, but that it is still necessary and possible to achieve.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 131 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The question of objectivity revolves around whether human beings can attain a true understanding of reality, free from any necessary distortions imposed by our cognitive mechanisms, language, culture, personal ambitions, psychological disorders, or class interests. It prompts us to consider whether our perception of the world is inherently limited by our vantage point, leading to the possibility that we may not fully grasp its entirety. Can we ever establish with certainty that our understanding of reality is accurate, or must this doubt persist indefinitely?

In this book, Professor Machan takes on the task of defending objectivity in philosophy, science, and everyday life against a multitude of critics. Objectivity presents a challenging ideal to uphold, particularly in an era characterized by multiculturalism, deconstructionism, feminism, and diversity. People from different cultures often assert that their experiences are just as valid and truthful as those of others. Deconstructionists argue that our knowledge is confined solely to language, rendering us incapable of knowing anything determinate beyond it. Feminists contend that women and men perceive the world in distinct ways. The concept of diversity gains credibility from the notion that individuals from diverse backgrounds possess their unique perspectives on the world.

The most prominent movements in Anglo-American and continental philosophy are openly critical of objectivity. Figures such as Richard Rorty and Jacques Derrida unequivocally deny that human beings possess the capacity to know the world as it truly is. This book engages with and responds to these and similar challenges to objectivity, offering a comprehensive exploration of the topic.

ISBN-13: 9781138620056